Study Work Plan

Justin Silverstein, APAMark Fermanich, CU-Denver

Review of Other States

• Undertake a literature review to examine how the 50 states count students for funding purposes– Will present a table later today with the

preliminary study

• Make a closer examination of three to five states that use Average Daily Membership– Looking at Arizona, New Mexico,…,…,…

District Data Gathering

• Gather information on their experiences with student enrollment and attendance patterns

• How they count, track and report these data, the relationship between student counts and the services that are offered how students flow into and out of the district,

• How student count data are used • Current policies, processes, information systems

(both hardware and software), reporting, and staffing related to student counts.

District Data Gathering

• Have had interviews, by phone and in person, with a number of districts over the past week

• Districts have ranged in size from xxx to 85,000 students and are from different parts of the state

• We are synthesizing this information and creating a brief survey that all districts will have the opportunity to take

District Data Gathering

• We will also bring together a group of five or six CFOs to discuss the implications of alternative student counts

Meet with CDE

• Meet with CDE staff to discuss the state’s current student counting policies and procedures and how alternative counting methods may impact the

• Examine issues of state and district data systems compatibility, training requirements, management practices, and administrative changes and costs.

Data Analysis

• We will gather data from both CDE and districts

• Examine how both enrollment and attendance vary over the year for districts

Model and Alternatives

• Create a model to examine the financial implications for the state and school districts of using alternative ways to count students– Will examine the impact on districts based on size,

location, and student demographics

• Develop a set of alternative approaches to counting students – Describe the possible changes for the state and

districts

Report and Presentations

• The report will be finished in early January• We will present to CDE and/or the

appropriate legislative committees

Advisory Committee

• Welcome the input of the advisory committee• Will meet today, December 15th and then

once in early January• Can be reached at 303-293-2175 or at

jrs@apaconsulting.net